Ohio primary echoes '76 race

Santorum's hurdles similar to Reagan's

3:26 AM,
Mar. 5, 2012

Ronald Reagan during a campaign stop in Cincinnati in 1976.

Written by

Barry M. Horstman

Although Ohio often finds itself in a national news media spotlight as a bellwether in presidential politics, the state last played a pivotal role in selecting a Republican nominee 36 years ago.

This year, history could repeat itself.

There are similarities between the climactic 1976 showdown between President Gerald Ford and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan and this year's GOP primary, widely viewed as largely a contest between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, despite two other candidates - former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul - still being in the race. ...